Enjoy Your Pets Without the Allergy Symptoms

We love our pets. Unfortunately, they can sometimes make our allergy symptoms flare. To live comfortably with your companions, try these six ways to reduce or even eliminate allergy symptoms at home.

Change Your Filters More Often

Most homeowners need to change their HVAC filters once every three months. If you own pets, you'll need to do this every two months. People who have allergies or asthma need to change out the filters every three to six weeks. For allergy sufferers, it's also important to schedule regular duct cleaning to have a specialist clear out all the dust and dander that has collected in your HVAC system.

Invest in an Air Purifier

Your HVAC filters will catch some pet dander, and you can even upgrade to filters designed to capture more dust mites, dander, pollen, and allergy triggers. Regardless of the filter quality, however, some asthma-triggering particles will pass through.

Invest in a purification system to capture these remaining particles and keep them out of your lungs. You can even find an air purifier with removable, cleanable filters so you don't have to worry about frequent replacements.

Bathe Your Pets

Image via Flickr by cristinabe

Whether you have cats or dogs, regular baths will help remove odors and minimize the buildup of dander. Try to bathe your pets every one to three months. More frequent bathing may be needed depending on your animals' skin, whether they have allergies, and whether they're prone to producing bad smells. You can use shampoos made just for dogs and cats (or whatever animals you share your home with) or wash them using baby shampoo.

Brush and Groom Your Pets

Between baths, groom your pets outdoors. This will remove loose fur and dander and keep those harmful particles from ever entering your home. You may be tempted to take your fur babies to a professional groomer, but you can handle this task at home. Purchase a quality brush, and gently brush down and out away from the pet's skin. If you have a companion with thick fur, you can apply a coat conditioner to help work through mats.

Assign "pet free" Spaces in the Home

Allergen levels can be lessened in "without pet" rooms. Sensitivity sufferers might need to keep pets out of rooms, home workplaces, or different regions where they invest a great deal of energy. They may likewise need to train pets not to go on the furniture and put resources into hypoallergenic bedding, which has an obstruction that opposes allergens, for example, dander, dust, residue, and shape. Putting resources into a decent air purifier with a HEPA channel will likewise help lessen airborne allergens.

Frequently Deep Clean Your Home

Changing HVAC filters isn't the only chore you'll need to do more often than the average homeowner. Sweep, vacuum, and dust more often, and depending on the severity of your asthma and sensitivity to allergy triggers, deep cleaning as frequently as once per week. Target curtains, drapes, and bed sheets in particular. These fabrics are known for retaining pet dander and are easy to ignore during regular daily cleaning.

Buy the Right Furniture and Décor

If you have severe allergies but are committed to having pets around anyway, you can make your life much easier with the right home décor. Hardwood is much better than carpet for pet owners, and you should go with leather or another fabric with a tight weave when picking furniture. These materials are easier to clean and won't retain dander like chenille and tweed.

Even if you have allergy symptoms, you can live comfortably with pets. Use these natural, drug-free solutions for cleaning your companions and keeping your home free of dander.